Scientists from Stanford University (USA) have studiedwhether organic food is safer or healthier than traditional alternatives. According to their conclusions, released this week in the magazineAnnals of Internal Medicine, the answer seems to be negative.
The research, in which 240 scientific articles related to this matter have been analyzed, indicates that there are nohardly any differences between the two types of food, at least as far as health is concerned.
The research has synthesized the results of 17 studies carried out with humans with organic and conventional food and 223 that compared the levels of nutrients, bacteria or contamination by pesticides in both types of food. After analyzing the data obtained, the authors found no consistent differences in vitamin content. Only one nutrient, phosphorus, appears to a greater extent in organic foods, something that, according to the researchers, does not have much clinical relevance since only a small percentage of the population suffers from a deficiency of this element.
Specifically, in the case of milk, there are no distinctions in the amount of protein and fat between organic and conventional milk, although some studies show that there is a greater amount of omega-3 fatty acids – very beneficial for the body – in milk. organic milk.
The only aspect whereOrganic foods seem to take advantage is in the presence of pesticides, since they have a 30% less risk of contaminationthan conventional products. Even so, the authors of the study assure that organic fruits and vegetables are not totally free of pesticides and that, in any case, all food is usually within the allowed limits. However, Bravata assures that “if you look beyond the health effects, there are many other reasons to choose organic products”, and points out the advantages in relation totasteof food and its greater respect for the environment.
The popularity of organic products has grown considerably in recent years despite the fact that sometimes the price of these foods is twice that of conventional ones. Between 1997 and 2011, sales have risen from $ 3.6 billion to $ 24.4 billion in the US.





